Nottingham Law School Wins The Worshipful Company Of Arbitrators Mediation Skills Competition 2014

Nottingham Law School's Sophia Baig and Isabel Baylis win The Worshipful Company Of Arbitrators UK Mediation Skills Competition January 2014

This year's mediation skills competition was held from the 17 to the 19 January 2014 in Linklaters LLP offices on Silk Street, London.

The aim of commercial mediation is to reach a settlement between two businesses, where the contractual relationship has broken down but they are trying to avoid going to court. At the mediation competition the two businesses are played by a two-person team, divided into client and counsel. Marks are awarded for skills such as problem-solving, advocacy, engagement with the other side and strategy development.

Sixteen UK Universities and Law Schools participated in the mooting competition. Nottingham Law School was represented by Sophia Baig (client) and Isabel Baylis (lawyer). The competition started on Friday the 17 January at the opening event where teams networked.

Saturday's event saw the qualifiers, where Nottingham Law School faced last year's winners, University College London. The judge praised Sophia and Isabel for their opening statement, which was of a professional standard. Nottingham Law School then went on to compete against the University of Chester. After scoring two clear wins in the qualifiers Nottingham Law School was announced as one of the four teams proceeding to Sunday's semi-finals.

After the semi-finalists were announced the scenarios for the semi-final were released. Sophia and Isabel had no time to celebrate, spending their Saturday evening in Linklaters office preparing for Sundays competition.

Sophia and Isabel’s preparation paid off in the semi-finals against Queen's University Belfast, resulting in Nottingham Law School reaching the grand final of the competition.

Sophia and Isabel only had two hours to learn the facts and figures, develop a strategy and write and memorise an opening statement for the final against London Metropolitan University. The final was performed on stage in the Linklaters auditorium in front of the other teams, various lawyers, judges and coaches. The teams were not fazed by the audience focussing on the problem at hand, creating an exciting grand final.

The close of the grand final was followed by the awards ceremony where Nottingham Trent University was awarded first prize, presented by Michael Stephens, the President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

After the weekend competition Isabel told us: "I was so exhausted I think it only hit me the next day how proud I was." She went on to say that they owe a lot to their wonderful coach and companion for the weekend Marguerite Kenner.

Nottingham Law School Wins The Worshipful Company Of Arbitrators Mediation Skills Competition 2014

An official agreement has been signed by Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and Armenia’s Yerevan State University (YSU) which will see the two institutions work together on legal education and research.